System and method of using variable pulses for symbology

ABSTRACT

A method and system for storing and transmitting data using variable pulse symbology over a fiber optic or ultra wide band system. Data is stored in memory, accessed and transformed into an electronic or photonic pulse and/or space which has a variable duration, the duration corresponding to the bit of data to be transmitted. The duration of the pulse and/or space is selected from a list of predetermined durations, each corresponding to a different base 10 number. The pulses and spaces may both be used to represent data, or the spaces may be used for meta data. Variable duration pulses may also be used to store data on an optical storage medium or fiber optic cable.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of a provisionalapplication Ser. No. 60/190,832 filed Mar. 21, 2000, and from U.S.application Ser. No. 09/812,545 filed Mar. 20, 2001, which applicationsare hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the use of character codes totelecommunicate data. More specifically, and in particular, the presentinvention comprises a system and method for the use of variable durationpulses and/or variable duration spaces between electronic or photonicpulses, each representing a different base 10 number, which aretransmitted using an ultra wide band or fiber optic system.

2. Problems in the Art

Currently, computers create, store, and access data which is coded usingthe binary language of 1's and 0's. Computers routinely access binarycoded files remotely via a telecommunication network. Computers andtelecommunication networks use the same binary language to create,store, and access data. At the stroke of a key a computer transformsvarious forms of input into a numerical representation. Many differentmethods of transformation have been put into effect. Morse Code wasperhaps the first such method to be widely used. Today, the majority ofsystems all use a binary language or code to transform various forms ofinput into numerical representations and vice versa.

Much like Morse Code, binary numbers use only two variants to representvast quantities of textual data. For instance, in 7-bit ASCII code, thetextual number “3” is represented in binary as “0110011” and the textualletter “A” is represented in binary as “1000001”. Each bit in the sevenbit representation screen is either a “1” or a “0”.

Problems arose with the use of many different types of binary encoding.The many different types of binary coding were not consistent and themany types of human language resulted in different textualrepresentations from the same set of binary numbers. For instance, ASCIIand ISO 646 were used for English-language data, while ISO 2022, anextension of ISO 646, is used for Latin based scripts common in Europewhich tend to employ various accent marks. This new standard becameknown as “Latin-1”. Similarly, there is now “Latin-2”, “Latin-3”, etc.

A solution was sought. That solution has appeared in what has becomeknown as “UNICODE”. After several attempts at a multilingual system,UNICODE, short for Unification Code, was developed to provide a uniquenumber identifier to every possible piece of textual data. Using a16-bit encoding means that code values are available for more than65,000 characters. While this number is sufficient for coding thecharacters used in the major languages of the world, the UNICODEStandard and ISO/IEC 10646 provide the UTF-16 extension mechanism(called surrogates in the UNICODE Standard), which allows for theencoding of as many as 1 million additional characters without any useof escape codes. This capacity is sufficient for all known characterencoding requirements, including full coverage of all historic scriptsof the world.

Though UNICODE has become the multilingual code of choice for Americanmanufacturers, several groups in the Far East have proposed andimplemented a UNIX version of a multilingual code. This code uses aneditor known as Mule, for MULtilingual Enhancement to GNU Emacs). Thiseditor uses many escape sequences to provide a multilanguage capability.

No matter which multilingual code becomes the world-wide standard, allof them must be eventually converted into binary numbers for use oncomputers and transfer across networks and the internet. As theindividual universal code numbers increase in size, so must their binarynumber representations. Further, if a system based on escape sequencesis used, many levels of representation may be necessary. This, too,requires longer binary representations. Further, current mechanicaldrives, such as standard computer hard drives, store textualrepresentations as binary numbers. Longer textual representationsrequire longer binary representations which in turn requires morephysical space.

The longer the binary representation, the longer the process time andtransfer time for data. As most current applications use some type ofbuffering when transmitting data, the limited 1's and 0's of binary alsorequire large areas in which buffering may take place. As more and moresystems move to wireless methods of communications and storage, transferand processing time will become critical. It is therefore desirable toprovide a method of minimizing the size of data representations.

There is therefore a need for a character code and transmission systemand method which avoids these and other problems.

Features of the Invention

A general feature of the present invention is the provision of a methodand system which overcomes the problems found in the prior art.

A further feature of the present invention is the provision of a methodand system capable of transmitting and processing a larger amount ofmore relevant data per unit time.

Another feature of the present invention is the provision of a methodand system which replaces the current binary coded symbols with variableduration electronic or photonic pulses.

A still further feature of the present invention is the provision of asystem and method which modifies the current UNICODE standard charactersets by representing the numbers, 0 through 9, with a single variableduration electronic or photonic pulse.

Another feature of the present invention is the provision of a methodand system which modifies the UNICODE standard character sets forsymbols other than numbers with a combination of variable durationelectronic or photonic pulses.

A still further feature of the present invention is the provision of asystem and method which modifies the current UNICODE standard charactersets by representing the numbers, 0 through 9, with a single variableduration space between electronic or photonic pulses.

A still further feature of the present invention is the provision of amethod and system which modifies the UNICODE standard character sets forsymbols other than number with a combination of variable duration spacesbetween electronic or photonic pulses.

A still further feature of the present invention is the provision of amethod and system which modifies the UNICODE standard character sets forsymbols other than number with a combination of variable duration pulsesand variable duration spaces between electronic or photonic pulses.

A still further feature of the present invention is the provision of asystem and method which modifies the current ASCII standard charactersets by representing the numbers, 0 through 9, with a single variableduration electronic or photonic pulse.

Another feature of the present invention is the provision of a methodand system which modifies the ASCII standard character sets for symbolsother than numbers with a combination of variable duration electronic orphotonic pulses.

A still further feature of the present invention is the provision of asystem and method which modifies the current ASCII standard charactersets by representing the numbers, 0 through 9, with a single variableduration space between electronic or photonic pulses.

A still further feature of the present invention is the provision of amethod and system which modifies the ASCII standard character sets forsymbols other than number with a combination of variable duration spacesbetween electronic or photonic pulses.

A still further feature of the present invention is the provision of amethod and system which modifies the ASCII standard character sets forsymbols other than number with a combination of variable duration pulsesand variable duration spaces between electronic or photonic pulses.

A still yet further feature of the present invention is the provision ofa method and system which modifies the UNICODE standard character setsfor all symbols and numbers by time modulating the start position of anelectronic or photonic pulse as related to its neutral position.

A still yet further feature of the present invention is the provision ofa method and system which modifies the ASCII standard character sets forall symbols and numbers by time modulating the start position of anelectronic or photonic pulse as related to its neutral position.

Another feature of the present invention is the provision of a systemand method which can improve buffering time and reduce needed bufferingspace.

These, as well as other features and advantages of the presentinvention, will become apparent from the following specification andclaims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the use of character codes totelecommunicate data. More specifically, and in particular, the presentinvention comprises a system and method for the use of variable durationpulses and/or variable duration spaces between electronic or photonicpulses, each representing a different base 10 number, which aretransmitted using an ultra wide band or fiber optic system. Opticalstorage mediums such as, but not limited to, CD-ROMs and DVDs could alsouse variable length pits and/or variable length spaces between pits,each representing a different base 10 number. Thus, the presentinvention can represent the value contained in any word for any formatused for music, graphics, data storage, video, etc. for CD, DVD, LaserDiscs, etc., mediums.

Current UNICODE representations are listed in tables which may be storedelectronically in a 256×256 array. A character code is assigned to eachcode element defined by the UNICODE standard. Each of these charactercodes is currently represented by a binary number. The present inventionuses variable length pulses to represent all singular numerical digits 0through 9. As each character in UNICODE is assigned a unique number, thevariable duration pulses of the present invention send the actual numberof the UNICODE character in an overall shorter string of numbers whichmay be read directly, rather than a string of binary numbers which mustbe further interpreted.

The coding system of the present invention is based upon a series ofpulses transmitted and received over an ultra wide band and/or fiberoptic system. Currently, Time Domain, Inc. has developed an impulseradio system which incorporates time modulated ultra wide bandtechnology. Impulse radio systems are described in a series of patents,including U.S. Pat. No. 4,641,317 (issued Feb. 3, 1987), U.S. Pat. No.4,813,057 (issued Mar. 14, 1989), U.S. Pat. No. 5,363,108 (issued Nov.8, 1994), and U.S. Pat. No. 6,031,862 (issued Feb. 29, 2000) all toLarry W. Fullerton. Other types of ultra wide band systems are describedin U.S. Pat. No. 5,901,172 to Robert J. Fontana, et al, and U.S. Pat.No. 6,026,125 to J. Frederick Larrick, Jr., et al. These patentdocuments are herein incorporated by reference.

As a time modulated system sends out a signal or pulse, it varies theposition of the pulse in time or offsets the pulse from its originallocation, thus varying the pulse to pulse interval on a pulse to pulsebasis. Currently the interval which is varied is large enough to allow aseries of pulses or a string to be offset as a group prior to the nextpulse or string being sent.

Further, each pulse may be elongated to last for a predetermined andprogrammable length of time. Thus, the offset of the pulse may be usedfor additional security purposes rather than as a means with which totransmit data. The length of the pulse becomes the data which is sent.By varying the length of the pulse, data may be transmitted using morethan the 0 or 1 used in binary language.

Ultra wide band systems can detect the start of a pulse, and the systemmay be programmed to listen for the end of the pulse which may vary induration according to programming. In the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention ten variable duration pulses and/or ten variableduration spaces between pulses are used to represent numbers 0–9. Forexample, the number 1 is a pulse of 50 pico seconds in duration. Othernumbers and their corresponding pulse durations are shown in Chart 1.

In an alternate embodiment of the present invention a constant durationpulse is broadcast at varying times from the pulse neutral position torepresent numbers 0–9, as shown in Chart 8. This embodiment would haveparticular benefit in a time modulated, ultra wideband system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention relates in general to a unique method forrepresenting data used by the telecommunication and computer industries.More specifically and in particular, the present invention is a newstandard symbology comprised of variable duration pulses and/or variableduration spaces between pulses that can be used in a variety of ways torepresent ASCII and UNICODE symbols. These variable duration pulsesand/or variable duration spaces between pulses can be electronic orphotonic depending on the transmission media.

The present invention replaces the current de facto standard of binarycoding of information for use by computers and telecommunications, byinstead representing each number, 0 through 9, with a single variableduration pulse and/or variable duration space between pulses. The firstembodiment of the present invention includes variable duration pulsesand/or variable duration spaces between pulses representing numbers, 0through 9, and combination of variable duration pulses and/or variableduration spaces between pulses to represent all other standard UNICODEsymbols.

The system of the present invention includes an impulse radiotransceiver which can generate a variable duration pulse and/or avariable duration space between pulses in the following manner.Combinations of numbers, 0 through 9, which represent bits of digitalinput data, such as ASCII or UNICODE, are stored in a memory unit. Thedigital output, numbers 0 through 9, would be assigned an address in amemory unit. As a result, upon being addressed, a discrete output numberwould be fed to a Digital/Analog converter unit. The Digital/Analogconverter unit would then output an analog signal proportional to theinput number (see Chart 1) which would then be fed to a triggergenerator. As an example, the trigger generator, e.g., an avalanche modeoperated transistor, would provide a sharply rising electrical output atthe 10,000 Hz rate or a like response of light output, e.g., byultraviolet laser, dependant upon the transmitter to be driven.

An input signal, which is a proportionally variable duration pulseand/or a variable duration space between pulses, representative of anumber, 0 through 9, is fed to a trigger generator and rapidly turns“on” a switch for a proportional amount of time, thus creatingelectronic or photonic pulses. The switch, for example, may be anelectrically operated or light operated switch, such as a diamond switchin response to an ultraviolet laser triggering device via fiber optic.Importantly, it must be capable of switching in a period of a nanosecondor less. It is then switched “on” to discharge a broadcast antenna whichwas earlier charged from a power source, for example in the range of 100to 5,000 volts. The switch may also discharge its output to a fiberoptic cable. Such output allows data to travel at the speed of lightrather than the speed of sound. Further, through the use of a repeater,data stored in the form of light pulses and/or spaces therebetween maybe stored on a loop of fiber optic cable.

Storage on a loop of fiber optic cable may occur by turning a repeater“on” and pulses of data may be accessed at any time by viewing thelooped signal or pulses input to the repeater through well knownprogramming methods. The data may be altered by adjusting the output ofthe repeater through well known programming methods to incorporate thedesired changes, thus saving the data to the loop.

Similarly, the output of the switch may be used to generate pits on acompact or digital versatile disk or any other type of optical storagemedia. The recording lasers which currently are pulsed for constantdurations of time to represent a “1” or a “0” are instead pulsed for avariable amount of time, thus generating pits, and spaces between pits,which are of varying lengths representing data symbology based onvariable duration pulses and/or variable duration spaces.

These proportionally variable duration pulses and/or variable durationspaces between pulses, are detected by an impulse radio receiver orother transceiver that has been programmed to capture and interpret suchpulses and/or spaces. The present invention uses variable durationpulses and/or variable duration spaces between pulses for coding toachieve a more efficient universal character set. Single variableduration pulses and/or variable duration spaces between pulses that aremathematically significant and relate to the numbers, 0 through 9, areused in conjunction with a character set like ASCII, or an expandeduniversal character set like UNICODE.

The first embodiment of the present invention includes single variableduration pulses and/or variable duration spaces between pulsesrepresenting numbers, 0 through 9, and combinations of variable durationpulses and/or variable duration spaces between pulses to represent allother standard UNICODE symbols.

First Embodiment

The first embodiment of the present invention is a modification of theUNICODE standard symbology. This modification represents the numbers, 0through 9, using only a single variable duration pulse and/or variableduration space between pulses. Computers using this modification performbase 10 math. Base 10 math is more efficient and up to eight timesfaster than the base 2 math now required with binary symbology. Allother standard UNICODE symbols would be represented by combinations ofvariable duration pulses and/or variable duration spaces between pulsesas opposed to a sixteen digit binary number. The main advantage ofUNICODE is a standard symbol set can be used by computers for universaldata interchange. One example of a scheme to use single variableduration pulses and/or variable duration spaces between pulses torepresent numbers, 0 through 9, is shown in Chart 1:

CHART 1 PULSE DURATION AND/OR SPACE DURATION BETWEEN PULSES NUMBER(PICO-SECONDS) 1 50 2 100 3 150 4 200 5 250 6 300 7 350 8 400 9 450 0500

It is important to note that in the scheme represented in Chart 1, thefollowing mathematically significant relationship exists:Integer(1–9)=integer×base pulse duration(50 pico-seconds)Zero=500 pico-seconds

Even though Chart 1 depicts the above relationship, it should be obviousto those skilled in the art that any interval of pulse timing can beused. For example, the base pulse duration and/or space duration betweenpulses could be 40 pico-seconds, or 100.7 pico-seconds, or any otherduration.

This relationship can be used for base 10 computing without convertingfrom any of the commonly used math schemes such as, base 2, octal orhexadecimal in a computer.

The below in Chart 2, illustrates adding the numbers 347 to 226 to 151by summing the total pulse duration and/or space duration between pulsesin the ones column, the tens column, and the hundreds column.

CHART 2 PULSE PULSE AND/OR PULSE AND/OR SPACE SPACE AND/OR SPACE COUNTCOUNT COUNT FUNCTION (HUNDREDS) (TENS) (ONES)   347 3  4  7 +226 2  2  6+151 1  5  1 Accumulated 6 11 14 Total Interpreted As 6(100 s)  1(100 s) 1(10 s) 4(1 s)  1(10 s)  Answer 7(100 s)  2(10 s)   4(1 s) Analog = 724

Chart 3 represents information contained in Chart 2 using current binarycoding methods.

CHART 3 EIGHT BIT EIGHT BIT EIGHT BIT BINARY BINARY BINARY FUNCTION(HUNDREDS) (TENS) (ONES)   347 00000011 00000100 00000111 +226 0000001000000010 00000110 +151 00000001 00000101 00000001 Accumulated 0000011000001011 00001110 Total Interpreted As 00000110(100 s) 00000001(100 s)00000001(10 s) 00000001(10 s) 00000100(1 s) Answer 7(100 s) 2(10s) 4(1s) Analog = 724

As an example, in Chart 2 the numbers 347, 226, and 151 are eachrepresented by 3 pulses and/or spaces between pulses of data. In Chart 3the numbers 347, 226, and 151 are each represented by 24 bits, of data.Comparing the amounts of data in Charts 2 and 3, it is obvious thepresent invention's variable pulsed symbology method requires fewerpulses and/or spaces than the standard binary number method, by a ratioof 1 to 8, or ⅛^(th). The inverse of this ratio would indicate that theamount of relevant information processed or transmitted could increaseby a factor of 8. This increase in relevant information relates to moreefficient use of symbols in computers and telecommunications.

If the numbers in Chart 3 were represented by the UNICODE standardcharacter set, the numbers, 0 through 9 would be represented by sixteendigit binary numbers. Therefore, the ratio of pulses and/or spaces tobits in this scenario would be 1 to 16, or 1/16^(th). The inverse ofthis ratio would indicate that the amount of relevant informationprocessed or transmitted could increase by a factor of 16.

Another application of the present invention would include InternetProtocol (IP) addresses used in telecommunications. Current IP addressesconsist of 32 bits of binary numbers. The present invention canrepresent an IP address with 12 variable duration pulses and/or variableduration spaces between pulses.

There are more computing operations required to process binary numbersmathematically than when using base 10 numbers. The exact number ofoperations will differ with each computation due to the number of valuesinvolved or the operation that is being computed. Using the methoddescribed in the present invention, the number of processing operationswill be fewer when using variable pulse symbology to represent numbersin base 10.

The present invention is a modification to UNICODE standard charactersets described in The UNICODE® Standard A Technical Introduction. Thismodification changes the representation of numbers, 0 through 9, in anyversion of UNICODE standard character sets from a sixteen digit binarynumber to a single variable duration pulse and/or variable durationspace between electronic or photonic pulses. All other symbols in anyUNICODE standard character set are represented by combinations ofvariable duration pulses and/or and/or variable duration spaces betweenpulses. Chart 4 illustrates a sample of UNICODE symbols other thannumbers, 0 through 9, represented by a sixteen-digit binary (0,1)number, in comparison with a modified version using combinations ofvariable duration pulses and/or variable duration spaces between pulses.

CHART 4 UNICODE UNICODE REPRESENTATION REPRESENTATION SYMBOL (CURRENT)(PROPOSED) A 0000000001000001 00065 I 0000000001001001 00073 S0000000001010011 00083

The present invention does not affect computer clock speed, but simplyallows more relevant bits of information to be processed per unit oftime or transmitted over a telecommunication network per unit of time.Chart 4 demonstrates that current UNICODE representation of data issixteen bits long. The corresponding UNICODE symbol using the presentinvention's variable duration pulse scheme based on Chart 1, consists offive pulses and/or spaces between pulses. This represents an apparentspeed increase for computing or telecommunication of 16 to 5, or 3.33times faster for textual based operations.

The second embodiment of the present invention are single variableduration pulses and/or variable duration spaces between pulsesrepresenting numbers, 0 through 9, and combinations of variable durationpulses and/or variable duration spaces between pulses to represent allother standard ASCII symbols.

Second Embodiment

This modification changes the representation of numbers, 0 through 9, inany version of ASCII standard character sets from a eight digit binarynumber to a single variable duration and/or variable duration spacesbetween pulses electronic or photonic pulse. All other symbols in anyASCII standard character set are represented by combinations of variableduration pulses and/or variable duration spaces between pulses. Chart 5illustrates a sample of ASCII symbols other than numbers, 0 through 9,represented by a eight digit binary (0,1) number, in comparison with amodified version using combinations of variable duration pulses.

CHART 5 ASCII 8859-1 ASCII 8859-1 REPRESENTATION REPRESENTATION SYMBOL(CURRENT) (PROPOSED) A 01000001 065 I 01001001 073 S 01010011 083

The present invention does not affect computer clock speed, but simplyallows more relevant bits of information to be processed per unit oftime. Chart 5 demonstrates that current ASCII representation of data iseight bits long. The corresponding ASCII symbol using the presentinvention's variable duration pulse scheme based on Chart 1, consists ofthree variable duration pulses and/or variable duration spaces betweenpulses. This represents an apparent speed increase for computing ortelecommunication of 8 to 3, or 2.67 times faster for textual basedoperations.

The two embodiments of the present invention describes three methods ofemploying variable duration symbology to represent data used bycomputers and/or telecommunication networks. In the first method, onlyvariable duration pulses are used to represent data. In the secondmethod, only variable duration spaces between pulses are used torepresent data. The third method uses a combination of both variableduration pulses and variable duration spaces between pulses to representdata.

In the third method, there are two alternatives in which a combinationof both variable duration pulses and variable duration spaces betweenpulses can be used to represent data.

The first alternative method is called cascading. This is defined asvariable duration pulses and variable duration spaces between pulsesalternating to represent data. As an example, in Chart 6 the UNICODEcharacter 15461 would be represented by the following cascade ofvariable duration pulses and variable duration spaces between pulsesused to represent the data.

CHART 6 PULSE DURATION AND/OR SPACE DURATION BETWEEN UNICODE PULSESCHARACTER (PICO-SECONDS) PULSE OR NUMBER (SEE CHART 1) SPACE 1 50 PULSE5 250 SPACE 4 200 PULSE 6 300 SPACE 1 50 PULSE

The second alternative method for using a combination of variableduration pulses and variable duration spaces between pulses is calleddouble-coding. This is defined as the variable duration pulses used torepresent a UNICODE character, and the variable duration spaces betweenpulses used to represent meta data. As an example, in Chart 7 theUNICODE character number 15461 would be represented by the variableduration pulses, and meta data number 6739 is represented by thevariable duration spaces between pulses. This meta data, or “XML-type”tagging would be used to drive look-up tables in which the numberrepresented by the variable duration spaces between pulses wasequivalent to a tag word, not just a single character. Using only thefour variable duration spaces between pulses would allow a table of9,999 meta data or “XML-type” tags to be created. If an extra pulse, oran “anchor pulse” were used, five variable duration spaces betweenpulses would allow a table of 99,999 meta data or “XML-type” tags to becreated, etc.

Extending the use of encoding entire words as described above with themeta tags could also be applied to combinations of UNICODE characterswhich make up words. As an example, an eight bit number represented byeight variable duration pulses and/or variable duration spaces betweenpulses would represent 99,999,999 words. As an example, the world“elephant” would require eight UNICODE characters, or 128 bits of data.By using an eight bit number in a look-up table, such as 19876543 torepresent the world “elephant” would save 120 bits of data.

CHART 7 PULSE DURATION AND/OR SPACE DURATION UNICODE META BETWEEN PULSESCHARACTER DATA (PICO-SECONDS) PULSE OR NUMBER NUMBER (SEE CHART 1) SPACE1 50 UNICODE PULSE 6 300 META SPACE 5 250 UNICODE PULSE 7 350 META SPACE4 200 UNICODE PULSE 3 150 META SPACE 6 300 UNICODE PULSE 9 450 METASPACE 1 50 UNICODE PULSE

In an alternate embodiment of the present invention a constant durationpulse is broadcast at varying times from the pulse neutral position torepresent numbers 0–9, as shown in Chart 8. This embodiment would haveparticular benefit in a time modulated, ultra wideband system

CHART 8 PULSE START TIME DIFFERENCE FROM NEUTRAL POSITION OF THE PULSENUMBER (PICO-SECONDS) 1 50 2 100 3 150 4 200 5 250 6 300 7 350 8 400 9450 0 0

It is important to note that in the scheme represented in Chart 1, thefollowing mathematically significant relationship exists:Integer(0–9)=integer×pulse time difference(50 pico-seconds)

Even though Chart 1 depicts the above relationship, it should be obviousto those skilled in the art that any interval of pulse time differencecan occur. For example, the pulse time difference could be 40pico-seconds, or 100.7 pico-seconds, or any other difference from itsneutral position.

Using this alternative method of representing the numbers 0–9 supportsthe examples of Charts 2, 3, 4, and 5 which demonstrate base 10 math andnew representations for UNICODE and ASCII symbols.

The present invention also provides for an alternate method of inputtingvariable duration symbology into a computer using a new bar codesymbology based on variable duration pulses and/or variable durationspaces between pulses, as described in Chart 1. The bar code symbologywould have various width bars and spaces that correspond mathematicallyto the variable duration pulse and variable duration spaces betweenpulses described in Chart 9.

Chart 9 WIDTH OF BAR VARIABLE DURATION PULSE CODE BAR AND/OR AND/ORVARIABLE DURATION SPACE SPACES BETWEEN BETWEEN PULSES BARS NUMBER(PICO-SECONDS) (INCHES) 1 50 .010 2 100 .020 3 150 .030 4 200 .040 5 250.050 6 300 .060 7 350 .070 8 400 .080 9 450 .090 0 500 .100

The width of the bar code bars and/or spaces between bars in Chart 8 arerepresentative of one scheme. One skilled in the art will recognize thatother bar code bar widths and spaces between bars would be applicable.

The present invention will require fewer data conversions than are nowrequired to capture bar coded data and convert into analog data that ishuman readable. Currently, a bar code reader captures bar coded data,converts it to an ASCII symbol, then to a binary coded number, then backto ASCII, then to a human readable symbol. The present invention willenable a bar code reader to capture bar coded data using the newsymbology, convert it directly to a variable duration pulse and/orvariable duration space between electronic or photonic pulses, then to ahuman readable symbol. The new bar code symbology is more efficient thanexisting bar code symbologies, as it will use two bars and one spacebetween bars to represent an ASCII symbol, versus the five bars and fourspaces that are currently required using Code 39, for example.

A general description as well as a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention has been set forth above. Those skilled in the art to whichthe present invention pertains will recognize and be able to practiceadditional variations in the methods and systems described which fallwithin the teachings of this invention. Accordingly, all suchmodifications and additions are deemed to be within the scope of theinvention.

1. A method of transmitting data over cable, the method comprising: receiving a first plurality of digital bits of data from a memory unit; receiving a second plurality of digital bits of data from a memory unit; receiving a third plurality of digital bits of data from a memory unit; transforming the first plurality of bits of data into a transmission pulse, the transmission pulse having a first pulse duration selected from a set of three or more predetermined pulse durations, one of which is corresponding to the first bits of data; transforming the third plurality of bits of data into a transmission pulse, the transmission pulse having a third pulse duration selected from a set of three or more predetermined pulse durations, one of which is corresponding to the third plurality of bits of data; determining the transmission time for the second plurality of bits of data, the transmission time having a duration selected from a set of three or more predetermined durations, one of which is corresponding to the second plurality of bits of data; transmitting the first transmission pulse; postponing the transmission of the third transmission pulse by a time equal to the transmission time for the second bits of data; and transmitting the third transmission pulse.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the transmission pulses represent data in the form of universal character coding.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the transmission time represents data in the form of universal character coding.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the transmission time represents data in the form of meta data.
 5. A method of transmitting data over the transmission medium, the method comprising: receiving a first plurality of digital bits of data from a memory unit; receiving a second plurality of digital bits of data from a memory unit; receiving a third plurality of digital bits of data from a memory unit; transforming the first plurality of bits of data into a transmission pulse of electrical energy, the transmission pulse having a first pulse position selected from a set of three or more predetermined pulse positions, one of which is corresponding to the first plurality of bits of data; transforming the third plurality of bits of data into a transmission pulse of electrical energy, the transmission pulse having a third pulse position selected from a set of three or more predetermined pulse positions, one of which is corresponding to the third plurality of bits of data; determining the time of transmission for the second bit of data, the time of transmission having a duration selected from a set of three or more predetermined durations, one of which is corresponding to the second plurality of bits of data; transmitting the first transmission pulse over a transmission medium; postponing the transmission of the third transmission pulse by a time equal to the transmission time for the second bits of data; and transmitting the third transmission pulse over a transmission medium.
 6. The method of claim 5 wherein the transmission pulse positions correspond to a number base higher than
 2. 7. The method of claim 5 wherein the duration between transmission pulses correspond to a number base higher than
 2. 8. The method of claim 5 wherein the transmission pulses represent data in the form of universal character coding.
 9. The method of claim 5 wherein the transmission time represents data in the form of universal character coding.
 10. The method of claim 5 wherein the transmission time represents data in the form of meta data. 